It never did exist.". The other guys are two doctors, who say they'll testify if they're summoned to court. He was married to his wife for 49 years. The mobster would later testify: I got news that Cuban officials were looking for to put me in jail because one of the things was that I was a Batista collaborator. Chronicles of Events and Biographies Related to the American Mafia. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. . In a final disappointment, he sold a filly named "Run Marisa Run" (after his daughter) for $7,500. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. A Drive-By Historical Tour of Tampa's Notorious Wise Guys Please try again later. ). The idea behind the assassination wasnt just to punish JFK but also to get his brother off the Mobs back. His son was turned away from a date's house and his daughter has been refused jobs. In 1975, the CIA declassified a report stating that Trafficante had been persuaded to poison Castro, an allegation he denied. "But then you get into alias this and alias that and when they get you in court, you probably just create more problems," he says. His luck has not improved recently. Husband of Private 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. And as for the rest of the Trafficante Crime family? He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented, After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. Undercover detectives ran a gambling sting operation there, hoping to nab a circle of Tampa men they said were making illegal sports bets. In 1959, the Cuban Revolution toppled the corrupt Batista government and the rebel leader, Fidel Castro, nationalized foreign-owned properties and shuttered the casinos, a huge financial blow to Trafficante, who was second only to Meyer Lansky in the depth of his investments in Havana. His sons, Dino and Joseph, run it for him, though he worries that sometimes they don't work hard. Rosselli testified in 1975 to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on the efforts to kill Castro. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. When Fidel Castro began his ascent to power in the 1950s, Santo Trafficante feared the radical Marxist revolutionary wouldnt cooperate with him. Our heartfelt condolences go out to your family. [20], In 2005, Lamar Waldron and Thom Hartmann's book Ultimate Sacrifice said that Trafficante was behind an aborted plot to kill Kennedy in Tampa on November 18, 1963. My prayers are with all of you. F. Kennedy not only failed to deliver on his promise to the mob but also actually put the Mafia under increasing pressure. Passing before her were her parents Antonino and Sarafina Marchese; her beloved husband Santo Trafficante Jr.; her son-in-laws Augie Paniello and Richard Valdes; and her brothers, Bennie Marchese, Tommy Marchese, and Peter Marchese. Despite his arrest, Trafficante managed to escape charges and continue to fly under the laws radar. "When my uncle visited it was like a family reunion. After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to advance the public understanding of organized crime's history and impact on American society. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. I found on Findagrave.com. With that act, Santo Trafficante now reigned supreme in Tampa. By December 1953, one more rival was dead and another was too scared to even venture out of his home. He was left with about 25 horses at his stable in Lutz that he couldn't race and couldn't sell for more than it cost to keep them fed. "[12] Aleman claimed to have reported Trafficante's comments to his FBI contacts, who "dismissed the Kennedy warnings as gangland braggadocio. He drove a forklift for 20 years. I will never forget him as a fellow stroke survivor. Then, check out these photos of the aftermath from some of the bloodiest mob hits. Salcines was observed at the properties the weekend of June 9, 1967. Santo Trafficante Jr. continued to develop his interests in Cuba serving as Luciano and Lanskys local liaison. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? His uncle, the late Santo Trafficante Jr., was reputed to have been the boss of the local Mafia. Search results for "Images of America" at Rakuten Kobo. In February 2016, many of Trafficante's personal belongings were sold at an auction in St. Petersburg, Florida. Santo Trafficante Jr. Learns About Sonny Franzese For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. [4] All were fined, up to $10,000 each, and given prison sentences ranging from three to five years. While the plot never came to fruition, Trafficante later testified that he did help the CIA recruit other mobsters for the surreal plot. My aim is to provide you with the best Service experience for you and your motorcycle. During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe he bought two basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan. You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. It was all on the up and up. Rosselli later claimed to be involved with or to actually be a shooter in a Mob conspiracy to kill President John F. Kennedy, and some accounts have Trafficante involved in the alleged, and unproven, conspiracy. Thanks for your help! A year has passed. Organized Crime Figure. Nicknames: The Silent Don The American governments close ties to Santo Trafficante Jr. and the rest of the Mafia didnt end with their attempts to kill Castro. When you start talking about organized crime, things can get dicey. Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. 93461.". love gloria "owens" hill. When his father died in 1954 he took control of these establishments. Now in his late 70s or early 80s, LoScalzo is reported to be retired. department.". Born in Tampa, Florida in 1914, Trafficante hailed from a family already deeply involved in organized crime. Buy the time LoScalzo took over in 1987, the Trafficante Crime Family was far past its heyday. Trafficante had been operating in Cuba since the late 1940s under his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., a mobster in Tampa, Florida. [19] He claimed three witnesses could support his statement that he met Trafficante in Tampa, but refused to name them, adding: "One guy is afraid of retaliation. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. Santo Trafficante Jr. - IMDb Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. [13] On September 27, 1978, Aleman reiterated to HSCA investigators that Trafficante had complained to him for hours in June or July 1963 about Kennedy's crackdown on organized crime at a meeting to discuss a business loan. "[19] In his book Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Vincent Bugliosi has claimed there to be many flaws in Ragano's claims, including his own claim that Trafficante was most likely not in Tampa on the day in question, but was rather in North Miami Beach, Florida, receiving dialysis treatments. She was born on March 24, 1920. Or does he just look like one? 0 cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. The authorities continued to charge him with participating in illegal activities, but the aging mob boss escaped conviction each time. Trafficante took control of the Tampa mob in 1954 after the death of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. Despite all of this or, perhaps, because of it, a few writers and filmmakers have chosen to focus on organized crime, determined to give Tampa its due. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. After that, he ordered casino owners to cough up employee back pay, then shut them down again. [2] Trafficante Jr. would frequently meet with Lucchese in New York City for dinner.[2]. But the news was not good on the Key Bank front. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood. From bolitaan illegal version of the now-legal Florida lotteryto narcotics, Tampas experience with organized crime is as notable as Chicagos or New Yorks. There was a problem getting your location. Peter Moruzzi/Wikimedia Commons The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. Love and peace to you all. He allegedly controlled organized crime operations in Florida and Cuba A car registered to former state attorney and current state appellate judge E.J. He headed the . That arrest also led Cuban authorities to become warier of the mobster, especially as the political tides seemed to be turning there. A Hillsborough judge threw out the wiretaps, the spine of the state's case. The CIA came to Trafficante, and asked for his help in enlisting the Mafia to assassinate the Cuban leader. And all this occurred throughout seven Sylvia at age 12 and her father Jimmy Velasco in California, June 1948 Jimmy Velasco was a political fixer. All the convictions were overturned on appeal in 1960. The next son was Luigi Santo Trafficante Jr. (his namesake and future Mafia boss), born on November 15, 1914. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. He was known as an organized crimes figure. Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. In the early 1980s Trafficante was ensnared in two major cases that could have sent the aging don to prison for the first time in his life, apart from his time in the Triscornia detention camp in Cuba following Castros takeover in 1959. "I'm a freak for that kind of stuff," he says. Pallbearers are Augie Castellana, Sam Paniello, Christopher Paniello, Anthony B. Marchese, Peter Marchese Jr., Ian Cordell, Don Smith, Frank Pancho Trafficante, John Castellana, and Dr. Santo Paniello. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Today, Santo Trafficantes criminal legacy lives on through his nephew and namesake, Santo Trafficante III, who was charged with organized fraud in 1992. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Gerry and your family. You have been in pain too long. Santo Trafficante: Building the Family Business - Gangsters Inc You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood.Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. Santo Trafficante Jr.: The Florida Godfather Who Tried To Kill Castro Like many of the most prominent mobsters of the 20th century, his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., grew up in Sicily, Italy but became a major player in the criminal world after migrating to America. Trafficante would be charged with bank fraud, perjury and disclosure of criminal investigation. Santo Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior . Consequently, while generally recognized as the most powerful organized crime figure in Florida throughout much of the 20th century, Trafficante was not believed to have total control over Miami, Miami Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, or Palm Beach. She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. After Fidel Castro's revolutionary government seized the assets of Trafficante's Cuban businesses and expelled him from the country as an "undesirable alien," Trafficante came into contact with various US intelligence operatives, and was involved in several unsuccessful plans to assassinate Castro. However, there were events outside of the United States and even organized crime that inadvertently led Santo Trafficante Jr. to put his own peculiar stamp on American history. But Santo knew who was behind the killing a rival Mafia faction. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Italian Club of Tampa Cemetery Fund, 1731 East 7th Ave., Tampa, FL 33605. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. Indeed, some people would rather not dwell on the less-than-noble aspects of our local history. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida Brother of Frank Cacciatore Trafficante; Private and Private. In Trafficante's food chain, reporters rank only marginally higher than prosecutors and bank regulators, whom he likes to refer to as "rat bastards.". He attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. Services will be followed by a graveside service at the Italian Club Cemetery and a reception at the family home. cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. They had three daughters, Antoinette born . Santo Trafficante 5 10 (1.78 m) Born November 15, 1914 Tampa, Florida, USA Died March 17, 1987 Spouse Josephine Marchese April 17, 1938 - March 17, 1987 (his death, 2 children) Publicity listings 2 Portrayals Did you know Edit Trivia Represented by Frank Ragano. Family members linked to this person will appear here. The charges of bank fraud against Trafficante and more than a dozen bank employees and customers may well be dismissed. Santo Trafficante Jr. (1914-1987) - Find a Grave Memorial It wasn't somebody going into a back room to kiss somebody's ring. Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. [2] Trafficante Jr. had known Lucchese since the 1940s, when his father and Lucchese had trained him in the mafia traditions. He headed the Trafficante crime family from 1954 to 1987 and controlled organized criminal operations in Florida and Cuba, which had previously been consolidated from several rival gangs by his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. He even sent his son, Santo Trafficante Junior, to New York, to gain a better understanding of how the mafia operated there. By 1987, the Mafia boss, who had walked the casino floors of the Sans Souci in Cuba, dined and hobnobbed with Frank Sinatra in the nightclubs and hotels of South Beach, and who commanded a presence in Tampa that is still felt today, was suffering from a diseased kidney and bad heart. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. In the meantime, the allegation that he is a mobster has dogged him and his family. He headed the Trafficante crime family from 1954 to 1987 and controlled organized criminal operations in Florida and Cuba, which had previously been consolidated from several rival gangs by his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. Trafficante maintained links to the Bonanno crime family in New York City, but was more closely allied with Sam Giancana in Chicago. Conspiracy theorists consider Giancana along with Mafia leaders Santo Trafficante Jr. and Carlos Marcello associated with the assassination of Kennedy. The east coast of Florida was a loosely knit conglomerate of New York family interests with links to Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, Angelo Bruno, Carlos Marcello, and Frank Ragano. Who better than his son, Trafficante Jr., to inherit his throne? He was a well-respected boss, even among the far larger New York crime families. Let others know about your loved one's death. This is a carousel with slides. President John. His son, Santo Trafficante Jr., took over the crime family and became tangled in a web of conspiracies to kill the leader of revolutionary Cuba and, it is rumored, President John F. Kennedy. "They wouldn't even let me go to the track. The elder Trafficante set up illegal casinos in Cuba in the 1940s, which were sanctioned by Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. On the day that investigators raided Key Bank, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital was inserting a catheter in Trafficante's groin. Try again later. He headed the Trafficante crime family and controlled organized criminal operations in Florida and Cuba, which had previously been consolidated from several rival gangs by his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. Trafficante maintained links to the Bonanno crime family in New York City, but was more closely allied with Sam Giancana in Chicago. After a lifetime in organized crime, Trafficante Jr. died of national causes in 1987. She was a native of Tampa, a second-generation Sicilian immigrant who grew up in Ybor city. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Add to your scrapbook. At 7:25 p.m. on January 3, 1953, Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. had just finished dinner with his wife and children at his father-in-laws house in the Ybor City section of Tampa, Florida. "He's very creative in terms of the combination of things he eats," Alessi says. The IRS was unsuccessful, according to Fernandez, Trafficante's attorney. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI, Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. Our thoughts and prayers with you. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Authorities also said he urged former bank vice president Michael Pupello to impersonate him in calls to federal bank regulators. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Treasury Department History of Santo Trafficante Jr 1961 While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI Donnie Brasco investigation he never spent a single day of his life in jail. And while cocaine-fueled Latin American criminal networks have been a serious problem in Florida for decades, the Trafficante familys illicit activities were quite infamous as well. This browser does not support getting your location. Santo, Jr. never spent a day in jail, and he died of natural causes in 1987. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. So, at his attorney Ralph Fernandez's urging, he has agreed to talk publicly, hoping to shore up his damaged reputation. He has played golf with former New York Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles and former New York Islanders hockey player Clark Gillies. Fine food, and lots of it. "My kids suffered a lot by it," he says. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. A year later they had their first son, Frank, born on April 16, 1910. Hoffa said to me, This has to be done.'. But according to declassified documents released in 1992, Santo Trafficante Jr. made a deathbed confession of his involvement in the Presidents murder. Trafficante admitted his anti-Castro activities to the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations in 1978, and vehemently denied allegations that he had knowledge of a plot to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Son of Santo Trafficante and Maria Giuseppa Trafficante Getting in bed with Trafficante and other leading members of Americas organized crime seems like a strange thing to do for the CIA. At age 16, he boarded the S.S. Lombardia and set sail for American in search of a better life. In October 1966, while waiting in a Queens courthouse for his turn to be questioned by a grand jury about the infamous LaStella meeting (later dubbed "Little Apalachin") held a couple of weeks earlier on September 22, Santo Trafficante Jr., who was the boss of the Tampa Bay Crime Family, overheard reporters talking about someone . To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. [3] His wife, Josephine, died in 2015 at the age of 95; he is survived by two of his daughters. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented ties with powerful Mafia families he had established as a young man in New York, and ruthlessly put down any attempts to usurp his territory or power. Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Under pressure of a court order granting him immunity from prosecution, but threatening him with contempt if he refused to talk, Santos admitted to a Congressional committee in 1975 that he had in the early 1960s recruited other mobsters to assassinate Castro. They lived in modest, ranch-style houses in quiet neighborhoods in Tampa and Miami. President John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. Many fond memories of Santo will continue with me. He dressed nicely but not ostentatiously, and his choice of cars was never flashy. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Santo Trafficante Sr. was a Florida mobster who survived a series of vicious gang wars to become the leader of a powerful Mafia crime family based in Tampa. His abiding passion is food. "Even my uncle (Santo Jr.) told me, "Santo, why don't you change your name?' I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Returning to Miami, he joined his father, managing some . Santo Trafficante Jr. - Wikipedia [22], sfn error: no target: CITEREFDouglass2010 (, Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 15:02, United States House Select Committee on Assassinations, Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, "With Santo Trafficante, an era is ending", "SANTO TRAFFICANTE, REPUTED MAFIA CHIEF, DIES AT 72", "Why mob bigs who met to crown a king had to run like roaches", "For Sale, a House WithAcreage.Connections Extra;Site of 1957 Gangland Raid Is Part of Auction on Saturday", "20 Apalachin Convictions Ruled Invalid On Appeal", "Narcotic Traffic Called Topic In Apalachin Talks", Memorandum for the Director of Central Intelligence, Subject: Roselli, Johnny, "Witness denies assassination, Cuba tied", "Mafia Linked In JFK Probe; By Cuban Exile", "Hoffa Lawyer: Jimmy Recruited Mob for JFK Hit", "Lawyer Says Hoffa Told 2 Mob Bosses to Have President Kennedy Killed", "Frank Ragano, 75, Lawyer for Mob and Hoffa", "The Sins of the Godfather? They used to be my greatest friend," Trafficante says. He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. Santo Jr.'s daughters still owns 3610, where Santo spent time when he wasn't in Tampa or Miami. Love, Jimmy Schaffer. Sam Giancana - Wikipedia ", Christopher Sabella elected as Hillsborough Countys next chief judge, Tampa man arrested in death of person found in apartment with unharmed infant, deputies say, Suspect in Hillsborough slaying of woman IDd, man known as Ya Dig, deputies say, After nearly a century of fixing Tampas flat tires, downtown Firestone closes, Under investigation, HART CEO proposes settlement, payout and exit, Dead body found in Hillsborough apartment with unharmed infant, deputies say, NAACP wants reparations for Tampas Black cemeteries that governments stole, Latin Kings gang leaders among 21 arrested in Hillsborough drug operation, sheriff says, Estimated 630,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Hillsborough River, records show, Tampa man who was first to face trial for Florida voter fraud in 2020 election gets probation. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Trafficante again escaped conviction. I am sorry I am unable to attend the services due to a illness. She was an amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend.
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